Small business website design vs social media: where to focus your energy

Small business owners face a tough question: “Should I invest more energy into my website or focus on growing my social media presence?” It’s a fair question — and an important one.

With social media platforms offering free tools to connect with customers and websites requiring time, effort and budget, it’s tempting to pour all your energy into Instagram, Facebook or TikTok. But is that the best move for long-term business growth?

In this article, we’ll unpack the differences between small business website design and social media, the strengths and limitations of each, and where small businesses should focus their digital efforts to get the best return on investment.

Understanding the role of each platform

Your website: the digital home base

Your website is your online headquarters. It’s the one platform you own and control completely. You can design it to reflect your brand, showcase your offerings, take bookings or payments, and act as a central hub for all marketing efforts.

A professional small business website design is more than just a digital brochure — it's a tool for converting visitors into paying customers.

Social media: the digital town square

Social media platforms, on the other hand, are great for visibility, engagement and building relationships. They’re dynamic, interactive and allow you to connect with your audience in real-time.

But they come with limitations, including algorithm changes, limited control over branding, and the ever-present risk of having your account suspended or throttled without notice.

The pros and cons of each

Pros of a small business website

• Ownership and control: No third-party rules. You own the platform and all its content.
• Professional credibility: A well-designed site builds trust instantly.
• SEO benefits: You can rank in Google search, bringing long-term organic traffic.
• Functionality: Sell products, take bookings, offer downloads, run a blog — on your terms.
• Custom branding: Full design flexibility to match your unique business identity.

Cons of a small business website

• Initial cost: Custom website design requires an upfront investment.
• Ongoing maintenance: Websites need to be updated and secured regularly.
• Time to build: Unlike social media, it’s not instant. A well-built site takes planning.

Pros of social media

• Immediate exposure: You can post today and reach people instantly.
• Two-way communication: You can engage directly with customers through comments and messages.
• No upfront cost: Accounts are free and easy to set up.
• Trend tapping: You can ride hashtags and current events to increase visibility.

Cons of social media

• You don’t own it: Your content is on rented land — subject to platform policies and algorithms.
• Limited functionality: You can’t fully customise the look or add complex features.
• Short lifespan: Posts have a short shelf-life before they disappear in the feed.
• Low conversion rate: Likes and follows don’t always translate into sales.

So, where should you focus?

The best approach isn’t “website or social media” — it’s a strategic combination of both. However, when it comes to where to focus your energy, your website should be your foundation, while social media acts as a traffic driver and engagement tool.

Here’s why your website should come first.

You own your website — not social media

Think of your website as buying a home, and social media as renting an apartment.

When you own your website, you control every pixel and paragraph. You’re not subject to algorithm changes, paid visibility throttles, or shifting platform rules.

Social platforms are notorious for changing how business pages appear, how often they're seen, or even suspending accounts with little notice.

If your entire business relies on your Instagram page and that page gets hacked, suspended or flagged — your audience disappears. Your website, on the other hand, is an asset that you control, and no one can take it away from you.

Websites drive conversions

Your website is where the magic happens.

It’s where visitors go to:

• Learn about your products or services
• Contact you or make a booking
• Buy from your store
• Download resources
• Join your mailing list

A professionally designed small business website is optimised for user experience, with structured content, clear calls-to-action and intuitive navigation — all aimed at converting casual visitors into loyal customers.

While social media is great for awareness, it's not where most conversions happen.

Search engines still rule

Google processes over 8.5 billion searches a day, and many of those are from people looking for services right now.

If someone types “plumber near me” or “custom cakes Brisbane” into Google, they’re not scrolling Instagram — they’re scanning search results.

Without a website, you’re missing out on a huge chunk of potential traffic. A well-optimised website can bring in leads organically day after day without paying for ads.

Social media doesn’t do that.

Your website reflects your professionalism

Customers often judge your credibility based on your website. If you only have a social media presence, you may appear less established or reliable — especially for service-based or B2B businesses.

A polished, modern mobile-responsive website sends the message that you’re:

• Trustworthy
• Professional
• Established
• Invested in your business

This kind of reassurance matters when a customer is choosing between you and a competitor.

Social media can’t replace functionality

A website can do things social media simply can’t:

• Display pricing tables or service packages
• Host detailed blog posts for SEO
• Integrate with booking systems or payment gateways
• Offer downloadable resources or lead magnets
• Run complex forms or client portals

Even a well-built Linktree can’t match the value of a fully functioning website tailored to your goals.

When to prioritise social media

While your website should be your digital foundation, there are cases where social media deserves more attention (temporarily):

• You’re building brand awareness and need to grow your audience fast
• Your customers spend most of their time there (eg. fashion, food, fitness)
• You don’t have the budget for a website yet (but plan to build one soon)
• You need real-time engagement, such as replying to messages or posting updates

That said, your efforts on social should still point back to your website — to convert followers into customers or subscribers.

Best practice: let social media feed your website

A smart digital strategy uses social media as a tool to drive traffic to your website.

Here’s how:

• Include your website link in your bio and posts
• Use social media to promote new blog content or services
• Offer exclusive downloads or lead magnets that live on your site
• Run ads that send users to a dedicated landing page on your site
• Collect email addresses on your website, and use socials to grow your list

This way, you’re not just entertaining followers — you’re nurturing leads and converting them through your website.

The power of owning your online space

While social media is powerful and essential, your website is the core of your digital presence.

If you're serious about growing your small business, your energy is best spent on:

1. Building a professional website tailored to your goals
2. Using social media to amplify your reach
3. Driving traffic back to your site where you can convert

Think of it this way: social media is the invitation; your website is the party.

Make sure it’s a party worth attending.

Need help with your small business website design?

At Marketeam, we specialise in custom website design for small businesses that want to stand out and grow online. Whether you’re starting from scratch or need a fresh redesign, we’ll build you a website that works as hard as you do.

Get in touch today for a free consultation — we’d love to help your business thrive online.